LO1 – “How To” for Multi-Camera Production

1. LO1 – “How To” for Multi-Camera Production By Andy Raynes *Note – “[n:nn:nn]” refers to the time-code (h/m/s) of the video on Weebly*

2. Live event example 1 – Wimbledon tennis Coverage of Action and Maintaining Viewer Interest These are techniques used to provide enough footage of all the action to keep the viewers entertained. As you can see from the image to the right, this is the main camera angle and position that actually displays the tennis match from a fair perspective so you can see the whole court – it’s not too close and not too far away [0:38:44]. If you were to compare it to another tennis match, the choice of view would be identical. You want to make sure that any action viewers would want to see is emphasised to the audience, for example if you were to only show a shot of the crowd e.g. [0:38:25] during a rally in this tennis match, viewers would be dissatisfied. Using multiple cameras allows more action to be covered, making sure vision mixers have several options when it comes choosing the desired shot. The next slide demonstrates the effective camera positions and angles that would take place to ensure maximum coverage and viewer interest.

3. Plan

4. Live event example 1 – Wimbledon tennis Constraints of Filming Outdoor There is always a possibility of bad weather which can delay the filming of the event when done outside. This does not happen in the example case, but to the left is an image of play being suspended at Wimbledon due to rain. Another matter could be lighting issues, for instance at late evening when it gets too dark for the audience to see - unless artificial lighting is used, but this is usually for high-budget productions. In addition, equipment (especially electrical) can be damaged. So when thinking about filming using multi-cameras outside, make sure you know what the weather forecast is and that the equipment is well taken care of. Wimbledon court, including equipment, being covered up as the match is suspended

5. Live event example 2 – MUSe Music concert Visual Style This refers to the visual appearance of the scenery being recorded. The image on the right shows a rock concert using live multi-cameras, and generally, the display is usually dark with multi-coloured beams of light that flash repeatedly to make it more thrilling for the audience, as well as making them more energetic [0:08:21]. Some lighting will also be focused on each band member on stage, ensuring that they stand out enough to be seen clearly. Also, notice how the space on stage [01:01:44] is evenly distributed between the band members. This is to maintain viewer interest by having a variety of shots, much like the Wimbledon Tennis example.

6. Live event example 2 – MUSe Music concert Communicating meaning to the viewer This is when shots can be ordered together in continuity to present a clear implication. The main example of this a reaction shot of the audience [1:02:16]. The singer pauses and lets the crowd sing altogether. By using multiple cameras, we can demonstrate not just the main action on stage, but the audience’s input and reactions too; that they are obviously enjoying the show. This will give people who are watching the event elsewhere, the incentive that it is exciting and thrilling. In comparison with The Jonathon Ross Show, some cameras keep a good close-up of Jonathon and the interviewee, allowing emotions and reactions to be displayed clearly to the audience for understanding.

7. Studio event example 1 – the Jonathon ross show Multi-camera simultaneous recording Refers to various cameras that are set up to record a live individual event simultaneously, where the vision mixer will change to the selected shot(s) manually to be shown on one screen. Multi cameras are mainly for live events as one camera cannot quickly film all the coverage of action at one time. This can also be very efficient for programs that are to be shown a short time after being shot, as it can reduce the time video editing the footage if necessary. At [0:00:10] you can see how the camera swaps every few seconds to enhance the coverage of action and to keep the viewers entertained by the variety of different perspectives. The next slide shows a rough camera plan of where they place it in The Jonathon Ross Show and why.

8. The Jonathon Ross Show – Studio Plan

9. Studio event example 2– top gear Constraints of Filming in a Studio Studios give the crew complete control over what is happening - from weather conditions to lighting and sound. An example of effective lighting is at [0:00:05]. You can see the main stage is fully lit, as well as certain sections of the scenery, such as their display of one of their broken vehicles from the past to give viewers several places to look. It can be hard to create the natural light you would get from filming outdoor (such as the Wimbledon Tennis). You can almost achieve sound and acoustic perfection working in a studio as you can block any background or unexpected noise you may have when working on a location [0:00:25]. A studio also gives you the gift of time, for instance if you were filming in a studio for a full day, you would have exactly the same setting as you would when you started. This saves time and money. On the other hand, any wires for equipment would need to be well organised, and the size can be very limited But for this video, Jeremy and Lewis have all the space they need for the interview, but they are limited on how big the crowd can be.